Morrison brings tax cuts forward

Good morning, early birds. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to announce an acceleration of tax cuts for small businesses, and a new poll highlights Australians' apathy for local politics. It's the news you need to know, with Chris Woods.

COALITION TO RAMP UP TAX CUTS

The Coalition will today unveil plans to introduce $29.8 billion in tax cuts for small employers five years earlier than originally planned. The government struck a deal with the Senate last year to gradually slash taxes for all companies with an annual turnover of up to $50 million.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald,Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today announce a plan to bring forward the 25 cents tax cut to 2020, as well as a tax boost for unincorporated small businesses in order to equalise the treatment of sole traders.

The move contrasts with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s recent education announcements and Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen’sannouncement today ($) that Labor would revitalise federal-state economic reform with a new Council of Australian Governments group. All three will speak at today’s Melbourne Institute and The Australian’s Economic and Social Outlook conference.

ENERGY INDUSTRY GIVES UP ON POLITICS

Energy companies and users are considering self-regulation after the Coalition’s five year policy vacuum claimed the National Energy Guarantee in August.

The Australian Financial Review ($) reports that members of the Business Council of Australia’s Energy Climate Change Committee privately discussed an industry-wide program for emissions and reliability obligations in the name of fostering grid and investor stability.

Speaking of, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australia’s lack of planning on grid infrastructure in the face of new renewables generation has caused congestion and caught up with investors, such as Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, who warn their recent boom is likely to slow.

NOBODY KNOWS OR CARES ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, POLL SUGGESTS

An inaugural EMRS poll for the Hobart Lord Mayoral race has found that, of 2680 respondents, just 548 confirmed they intend to vote.

In a terrific indictment of local politics, The Hobart Mercury ($) reports that 42% of the people who did say they would vote were unable or unwilling to name a preference. Independent Anna Reynolds has lead the way for named nominees at 15%.

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THEY REALLY SAID THAT?

That’s the existing law. That’s the existing law … The existing law enables schools to do exactly what was in that report … Well it’s the existing law, and we’re not proposing to change that law, to take away that existing arrangement that exists …

[So you’re comfortable with a school expelling a student because they’re gay or lesbian?]

It’s existing law.

Scott Morrison

In a performance we sadly had to cut for space, the Prime Minister does his best to dodge questions over (currently escalating) suggestions in the Ruddock religious freedom review.

CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY

“Kudos to the Australian Banking Association for agreeing to amend its banking code of conduct to address banks charging fees for no service and charging dead people. ‘It has always been unacceptable for any organisations to charge fees without providing a service,’ ABA head Anna Bligh generously acknowledged, ahead of a media conference Wednesday morning, breaking the ABA’s silence on the banking royal commission.”

“It is the transcendent irony of defamation litigation that it provides such a brilliant spectacle for us, the punters. Its legal purpose is to repair a reputation harmed by slanderous attacks; its effect is, usually, to torch everyone who comes near. In litigation, the house always wins. Defamation cases are particularly messy, and therefore horrendously expensive.”

“Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, who was among the demonstrators, told Crikey the decision to allow the projection was ‘absolutely disgusting behaviour by our government’. ‘I can’t believe they’d degrade such a great part of Australia to advertise gambling when we have such major gambling issues in this country. To advertise on one of our national treasures is disgusting.’”

THE COMMENTARIAT

Australia-Indonesia ties: from disaster relief to counter-terrorism ($) — Christopher Pyne(The Australian): “Today I make my first visit to Indonesia as Defence Minister. It comes at a time of great suffering and tragedy for the country. Indonesia’s military, the TNI, is leading the difficult recovery effort following the devastating Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami that has claimed more than 1900 lives, with more than 74,000 people displaced.”

Ruddock report constrains, not expands, federal religious exemptions — Liam Elphick, Amy Maguire and Anja Hilkemeijer (The Conversation): “The leaked recommendations give us a clear snapshot into what the review means for religious freedom and LGBT+ rights in Australia. Despite much commentary to the contrary, the recommendations actually constrain rather than expand federal religious exemptions to LGBT+ protections.”

While my island nation sinks, Australia is doing nothing to solve climate change — Anote Tong(The Guardian): “Half a degree of warming may seem trifling but, for my country, Kiribati, these fractional figures are a matter of life and death. Our whole nation is only two metres above sea level, and the report shows that the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of warming is several centimetres of sea level rise.”

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Melbourne

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will each makes speeches on day one of the two-day Outlook Conference, a national forum on economic and social policy.

The CREATE Foundation will host an event for young people to question Victorian politicians on how to fix state care, to be introduced by Principal Commissioner Liana Buchanan and Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Justin Mohamed.

Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau will launch a convoy of over 300 celebs and footy players in the Daniher’s Drive 2018, a charity fundraiser for motor neurone disease.

Australian rower Drew Ginn will be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Headspace CEO Jason Trethowan will address a national Headspace Day event being held as part of National Mental Health Week.

The third Diversity and Inclusion in Sport Forum will be held at Olympic Park.

Winners will be announced for the 2018 Premier’s Sustainability Awards.

Supercars, Visit Victoria and the state government will make an announcement at Albert Park. Speakers include Sports Minister John Eren and Supercars CEO Seam Seamer.

Sydney

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) will hold a press conference over the Nauruan government terminating its contract on the island.

Sir Richard Branson will launch the world’s first meditation flight on Virgin Australia.

International child rights organisation Plan International will launch a report highlighting the issue of street harassment in five cities, including Sydney.

Canberra

The house economics committee will begins its biannual review of the four big banks, with CBA and Westpac CEOs set to appear first.

ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury will join the High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji Luke Daunivalu as part of the international initiative “Powering Past Coal Alliance” at Mount Majura solar farm.

Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendan Nelson will launch a new exhibition, “After the war”, exploring the impact of conflict on Australia.

Brisbane

Day one of the two-day 2018 National Landcare Conference and Awards, to feature a keynote from Director of the ANU Climate Change Institute Professor Mark Howden on “Towards a climate change strategy for landcare”.

Environmental economist Professor Tor Hundloe and scientist Keeley Hartzer will launch their book The cheapest electricity on Earth at UQ’s Global Change Institute.

Journalist Madonna King will launch her latest book Fathers and Daughters at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School.

Perth

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will conduct consultation roundtables with members of the WA’s creative industries, as part of the federal government’s “Soft Power Review” to understand Australia’s international reputation.

Hundreds of protestors will rally at Parliament House for a permanent, legislated ban on fracking in WA.

Darwin

Former NT Chief Minister Clare Martin will address a leadership event for women in the NT public service.

Adelaide

ABC journalist and newsreader Nas Campanella will address the Royal Society for the Blind’s 2018 World Sight Day event.